Brainstorming Techniques for Teams

“Brainstorming” is a group discussion technique in which individuals in business life express their ideas freely with their teams, without worrying about being criticized. People working in sectors such as advertising and project management are more likely to use brainstorming techniques. Teams that use this method generate innovative ideas, improve their problem-solving skills, draw inspiration from each other and set clearer strategies. Brainstorming creates space for different and inspiring ideas. With this technique, many different innovative ideas emerge in a very short time.

The brainstorming technique, which works particularly well in the advertising industry, focuses on the quantity of ideas rather than the quality of ideas. When teams come together to practice this technique, they develop problem-solving skills in a creative way. The basis for the brainstorming technique is determined by the knowledge, experience and insights of the team members. In large groups offering services in areas such as advertising, R&D and project management, all ideas are collected and lists are created. From the resulting lists, the team evaluates the most inspiring ideas that best fit the team’s goals to be used in the projects and creates a strategy around this idea. Places are as influential as people for creative ideas. Creative thinking skills increase in vibrant, dynamic and modernly designed spaces. If you would like to work in Withco’s spaces designed to increase creativity and efficiency, you can check out our digital membership options here.

Brainstorming Techniques for Innovative Ideas

In sectors such as advertising and project management, the slogan “Creativity is everything!” is used. This slogan applies to every sector of business life. Brainstorming is a great tool for generating innovative ideas and unleashing creativity. With this technique, teams can produce much more creative solutions. Companies that want to offer their customers a new perspective and develop their potential utilize brainstorming techniques to support their teams. The most frequently used brainstorming techniques that we encounter in business life are listed below;

• The Technique of Looking at Things Differently: In sectors dominated by creative business ideas, crowded team members gather the topic on their agenda under one heading and the relevant sub-headings are created with the ideas of the group. With this technique, which has an unlimited scope of expansion, issues are viewed from different perspectives.
• Listing Technique: A list is made about the chosen topic and then ideas are listed in the opposite order of the list made. In cases where many ideas emerge in teamwork, such as in the advertising industry, inspiring ideas are evaluated.
• Perspective Technique: Looking at a subject from different angles, developing a strategy, brings about a better command of the overall subject. Team members develop a new perspective by researching, analyzing and digging deeper into the chosen topic.
• Clustering Technique: In this technique, also known as mind maps, the focus topic is written in the center of a blank white sheet of paper. Every word that comes to mind related to the subject is included in the cluster and the study is continued. Once completed, inspiring ideas are shared with team members.
• WH Questions: Frequently used in journalism, team members ask each other “What?”, “When?”, “Where?”, “Why?”, “How?” and “Who?”. These questions, which generate innovative ideas on the subject, also inspire new strategy development.

Problem Solving

It is common to encounter many problems in different sectors and fields. Problem solving with brainstorming and teamwork will minimize communication problems among team members and help to present more perspectives on the problem on the agenda. Much more functional than individual problem solving techniques, group work supports the development of new and inspiring ideas. In the event that a participant in the team gets stuck, another team member can take the process to a new point with their creativity and experience. For large team members, this technique allows even the most complex problems to be solved in a short time.

When using the brainstorming technique for problem solving, the suggestions for getting the highest efficiency are listed below:

• Availability of all necessary equipment in the area where teamwork will take place.
• Ensuring the ideal temperature, acoustic and lighting conditions of the environment.
• Team members involved in teamwork should have different socio-cultural backgrounds as much as possible.
• Creating teams of 3 to 7 people.
• Clearly articulating the problem and sharing it with the participants.
• Keeping space for free association even though research and preparation about the problem has been done.
• Recording the process with digital tools, as it is difficult to remember ideas during the work.
• After all ideas have been shared, continue the discussion to generate and develop innovative ideas.

Incorporating Brainstorming Technique in R&D Studies

Today, R&D activities are carried out in a wide range of fields. The most effective project management tool is known as R&D. Companies often include R&D activities in their project management processes in order to bring innovation to the sector in which they operate and to achieve more successful results. These studies form the fundamental basis of the innovation process.

Innovative ideas only emerge from R&D with well-executed problem-solving strategies. When establishing a new company, moving forward with R&D studies and creating a strategy with teamwork increases the chances of standing out among competitors. Looking at the systematics of R&D work, it is seen that project management processes proceed in three stages. These are;

• Feasibility process,
• Applied research,
• It is a testing process.

Teamwork in the Feasibility Process

Moving forward with teamwork during the feasibility process provides an accelerating effect. Supporting teamwork with the brainstorming technique creates the highest potential. Brainstorming about whether or not to implement an idea-based project contributes to the feasibility process of the project or product.

In the applied research phase, teamwork is used to examine whether potential customers are interested in the project on the agenda. In this process, an accurate public opinion survey can be conducted with the support of research companies. When successful results are obtained from both phases, the third phase, the testing phase, begins.

Prototypes are produced with the strategies and objectives determined within the framework of project management . Trials are then conducted on potential customers. Feedback from the test results is used to develop and strategize the project or product. Brainstorming techniques can be used in all stages of R&D studies, not just feasibility. Thus, different innovative ideas can be incorporated into the team’s work process at each stage.

Benefits of Brainstorming for Teams

Companies in business life bring their teams together to brainstorm in order to produce more creative and original ideas. Sectors that require a higher level of creativity, such as advertising, often benefit from teamwork and brainstorming techniques. The brainstorming technique contributes greatly to problem solving and developing new approaches when the team is stuck on an idea or project.

As the technique is practiced, new strategies emerge and participants’ inspiring ideas help shape the project. When applying the brainstorming technique in team work, the involvement of team members in the process without fear of being judged will ensure more successful results from the technique. Managing brainstorming correctly also increases the efficiency. The benefits of this technique are as follows:

• Increases job satisfaction and commitment of team members through teamwork.
• It enables individuals to generate innovative ideas and be more creative in both their business and private lives.
• It increases communication within the team and plays an active role in solving communication problems in a short time.
• It helps the team to work with fun.

The meeting rooms and common areas at Withco are ideal for brainstorming. Enjoy teamwork with dynamic and modernly designed spaces! Click here to see Withco’s digital membership options.